Free home to school transport is provided for:
- primary aged pupils who live two miles or more from their catchment or nearest available school
- secondary aged pupils who live three miles or more from their catchment or nearest available school
This includes Welsh-medium and faith schools.
A child qualifies for free home to school transport to an alternative school, as long as the school is nearer than the catchment school and the qualifying distance is met.
If you choose to send your child to a school that is not your catchment school, you will be responsible for all transport costs and arrangements.
If your application to a preferred school is not successful, you will qualify for help. Only if your child attends the catchment school as an alternative, or the next nearest available school (decided by the council).
This still requires the qualifying distance to be met.
Past applicants
Pupils already using school transport do not need to re-apply unless they have moved home address or changed school.
Season tickets will automatically be renewed and sent to your home address.
If there is a change of school, home address or if the council finds a shorter walking route within the distance criteria limit, a child may no longer be eligible for free home to school transport.
2024-25 applications
Parents of eligible children starting school reception class or year 7 in September 2024 can apply now for free school transport.
The closing date for applications is 19 May 2024.
Only pupils in Reception and Year 7 and pupils making a first application need to apply.
Pupils attending college in September 2024 can now apply for transport.
Please ensure applications are received before the closing date so that your travel grant will be in place for the start of the academic year.
The closing date for applications is 31 July 2024
If your application is received after the closing date, your travel grant may not be ready for the start of the academic year.
Concessionary seat applications for 2024/2025 academic year are now open.
These seats are available for paying passengers on contracted transport operated by the council.
The closing date for applications is 16 August 2024.
Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis.
Free transport is arranged for pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN)
The service is usually provided for children who attend either special schools or a unit attached to a mainstream school.
More information can be found on our ALN webpage.
Applications for post-16 transport for the 2024/25 academic year are now open.
Post-16 students who qualify for home to school transport under the agreed distance criteria may receive a discretionary travel grant of £150 for each academic year.
The closing date for applications is 16 August 2024.
How a decision is made
The council uses routing software to decide on the shortest walking route to school.
The software has been approved and tested by council staff. It is the only measurement tool used by the council.
Distances are measured by the closest entrance to the house and the nearest entrance to the school. It is the adult’s responsibility to decide if the child should be accompanied.
Sometimes pick-up points for children are needed when it is not possible for vehicles to pass homes. The pick-up point should normally be less than one mile away from home.
Free school transport may be provided if the council decides that there is no available route to school. Parents cannot claim back costs for arrangements if council transport is available.
If your child moves outside the school catchment area during year one or two of school, they will not normally be provided with free transport.
Applications for moves during the third or later years will be considered. This would only be if transport can be provided by existing services in Newport.
Free school transport can be provided on medical grounds for pupils who live in the catchment area.
Free school transport is not provided for:
- pupils attending private school
- students aged 19 and over (unless a course that started before reaching the age of 19)